Clement Anselm Evans

BornFebruary 25, 1833, Stewart County, GA
DiedJuly 2, 1911, Atlanta, GA
EducationAugusta Law School

Overview

A Georgia lawyer and politician, Clement A. Evans became a division commander in the last months of the war.

Wounded in the Seven Day Battles, he was back on duty in time to succeed to command of he brigade at Fredericksburg. Replaced by General Gordon, he commanded the 31st at Gettysburg and the Wilderness. When Gordon was raised to division command, Evans took over the brigade and a few days later was transferred with Gordon to the remnants of Johnson’s Division after Spotsylvania. Evans fought at Cold Harbor and then accompanied the corps to the Valley. In the invasion of Maryland he was wounded at Monocacy but returned in time to fight at 3rd Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek. Returning to Lee’s army, he directed the division in the Peterburg trenches and surrendered at Appomattox.

Becoming a minister after the war, he wrote Military History of Georgia and edited Confederate Military History, a 13- volume work.

  • Major, 31st Georgia (November 19, 1861)
  • Colonel, 31st Georgia (May 13, 1862)
  • Commanding Lawton’s-Gordon’s Brigade, Ewell-Early’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia (September-October and December 13, 1862-ca. April 11, 1863 and May 8-21, 1864)
  • Commanding Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Valley District, Department of Northern Virginia (June 13-July 9 and late summer-December 1864)
  • Commanding Gordon’s Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia (December 1864-April 9, 1865)